Trailer



2 sheets-sheetl 1 '5. B. WINN Feb. 25, 1941.

'TRAILER Filed nec. 1, V:1958

s. B. WINN Feb. 2s, 1941.

TRAILER 2 sheets-sheet 2 'y Filed Dec.' l, 1958 Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED 4suit-lires Pli'reiurl OFFICE Sidney B. glllpeer, llich.

4 Claims.

,be raised and/ or lowered.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. new and improved operating mechanism for w] operating the trailer brakes and also for raising and/or lowering the trailer leg.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved trailer having simple, enicientand dependable mechaniism for raising and/or lowering the trailer leg and for operating the trailer brakes.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description takenl in connection with the accompanying drawings in whichf Figure l is a. top plan view of a rear end .por-k tion of a tractor and my improved trailer shownl coupled to the tractor;

Fig- 2 is a side view in `elevation of the tractor and trailer of Fig. 1;

Fig..3 is a view shown partly in elevation and 2 partly in cross section of the trailer, taken along the line and in the direction of `the arrows 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation looking from left to right o f Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view in section of certain of the trailer brake operating mechanism, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical view of operating and control mechanismfor operating parts of the tractor, and j Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical view of the control shown in another position from the position shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings by charac-ters of reference, the traictor includes the usual frame l0, mounted on wheels l I and a so-called iifthwheel i2 pivotally mounted on the rear end of the tractor frame to support the front end of the trailer. The fifth wheel i2 lmay. be of any suitable type and, in the present instance, is .provided with coupling jaws i3 to receive a king pin i4, carried by the trailer, the king 'pin it and nfth wheel I2 f. being coupled together lby reieasable coupling- (Cl. 25W-33.1)

mounted on rear wheels 'I6 and a so-called front y supporting leg or prop, designated in general by the numeral I1, which legis adapted Vto be raised clear of the ground when the vehicles are coupled. for travel together. The frame l I5 comprises spaced longitudinal frame members I8 rigidly secured together by transverse frame members I9, the frame having a raised front end` portion which rests lon the tractor fth wheel.

Referring now more in detail to the leg structure l1 and its associated mechanism, this 'structure preferably includes a. pair of spaced, substantially vertical leg 'members 2l) mounted at their lower ends on a transverse shaft 2 i` which in turn is preferably mounted on wheels 22, and the upper ends of the spaced leg members 20 are joined by a transverse rod 23 on the outerends of -which are provided rollers 2i for cooperation with guide riser members 25, rigidly secured to and inwardly of the fra/me side members I8. These risers '25 are provided with upper, at su'bstantially horizontal supporting surfaces 26 on 20 are braced against swinging movement rabout the axis of the rollers 2li by spaced angularly extending members 28 and spaced longitudinally extending memlbers 29, which members are connected together and to the legs 20. vThe angularly disposed members 28 are connected at their lower ends, as at 30, to and adjacentthe lower `ends ofv the .legs 20 and extending rearwardly and upwardly are preferablyconnected together at their upper ends by a transverse rod 3l on the outer ends of winch rollers 32 are preferably provided'and freeely received in channel-like riser guide members 32a which may be rigidly secured to and` inwardly of the frame side members I8.

Secured to the rod 23 is a pair of spaced, rearwardly and upwardly extending arms 'r levers 33 to` which theforward ends of the `connecting members 23 are connected, ,the rear ends of the connecting members 28 being connected to the transverse rod 3| v which connects the upper ends of the angularly disposed members 28.'

. Rearwardly of the leg or prop structure il, a pair of spaced Ibrackets 34, rigidly secured to the underside of fthew frame `members i3, suppOrt a. transverse shaft' 35 to which is secured a. pair of spaced levers 36 which at their upper ends are piyotally connected to the forward ends of the connecting members 28 by links 81.4 To raise the leg or prop -structure I- provide power means which preferably include'a pair of vacuum cylinders 38 which may be rigidly secured to one of l the frame cross members I8 rearwardly of the levers 36. While- I have 'shown two vacuum 'cylinders, one or -more may be employed, depending upon the cylinder sizeandv power required. In each of the vacuum cylinders 88, a pressure responsive movable means such as a diaphragm 88 is provided, the diaphragms being connected by links 48 to the levers 36 of the leg operating mechanism. A vacuum conduit or line 4I leads from the forward end of the trailer frame rearwardly along one of the side frame members I8 to which it may be suitably secured, and from this conduit 4I, a branch conduit 42 connects to a conduit 43 which in turn connects to the Vacuum cylinders 38 at the rear thereof.V Rigidly secured to the intermediate cross member I9 immediately rearward of the vacuum cylinders 38 is a. vacuum holdover tank 45 to which the vacuum line 4i connects via a check valve 46 which may be of any suitable type. This check valve 46 islocated in line 4I between the leg lifting cylinders 38 and the vacuum tank 45 so as to hold the vacuum in tank 45 when the vacuum in cylinder 38 is released. A branch conduit 45a leading from the vacuum tank 45 is 4provided with a bleeder valve 46a for a purpose hereinafter fully described. Rearwardly of the vacuum tank 45 is a second pair of vacuum cylinders 41 each having therein a diaphragm 48 dividing their respectivey cylinders into a forward chamber and a rearward chamber, -this second pair of vacuum cyl' inders forming in'part brake operating mechanism for the trailer rear wheels I6. The forward chambers of the brake vacuum cylinders 41 areV connected to the vacuum tank 45 by a conduit 48 and the other'or rear chambers are connected to a conduit 58 which leads therefrom forwardly of the trailer and maybe suitably secured to the frame side member I8' opposite from the side Amember to which the vacuum conduit 4I is secured. As will hereinafter be understood. more clearly, under certain operating conditions the conduit 58 is connected to a vacuum creating or suction source to obtain subatmospheric pressures in the rear chambers of the brake operating cylinders 48 and under other conditions the conduit 58 is open to atmosphere. Conduits 4I and 58 terminate in coupling members 58a to which flexible conduits 581 leading to thesource of suction, such as, the intake of the tractor engine, and the coupling or uncoupling of the con; duit 58b controls the prop raising vacuum cylinders 88. J Y i The brakes of the trailer rear wheels I8 may i be of any suitable type and each comprises in general, Fig. 2, a pair of brake shoes 5I operated by levers 52 against the action of springs 53, only one of which is shown. Connecting rods 54 individually connect the brake levers 52 to the cylinder diaphragms 48. Adjacent their upper ends, the 'brake operating levers 52 are provided with aligning apertures for rotatably receiving reduced end. portions of a transforward end of the connecting rod 88 being'pivotally connected as at 51, Fig. 2. to the lower end of a lever 58 mounted on a. transverse shaft 59 which is preferably positioned forward of the frame cross 'member I8 to which the vacuum cylinders 38 `are secured. A bracket 88, Fig. 3, is rigidly secured tothe trailer frame and is apertured to receive and support one end of thel transverse shaft 58, the other endof the shaft 58 being supported in an aperture in one of the frame side members I8. This outer end of the transverse shaft 58 projects slightly outward from the frame and secured thereto is a manually operable lever 68a by means of which the trailer rear wheel brakes may be applied and/or released when parked, if desired. Rigid with the lever 88a, 'a ratchet 8l is arranged to cooperate with a pawl 62 secured to a shaft 83 which is adjacent and parallel to the shaft 58. The pawl, Fig-4,Y is provided with an upwardly directed arm 64 to which one end of a spring 85 is secured, the other end of the spring being anchored to the adjacent side frame member I8. Asshown, the spring 65 acts to hold the pawl 62 in cooperative engagement with the ratchet 8|. Secured to the same shaft 63 to whichthe pawl 62 is secured, ,there is a lever having a downwardly directed arm 81 which serves as a trip operable toV disengage the pawl from the ratchet. The trip arm 61 is arranged in the path of and vfor engagement and actuation by an abutment member 88 integral with one of the connecting rods 48 of one of the leg or prop lifting vacuum cylinders 38.

As previously mentioned, the supporting rollers 24, of leg or prop structure in raised position rest on the fiat surfaces 28 of'the riser members 25 and in order to insure lowering of the leg structure, la rod 18 extending longitudinally of the trailer is provided having at its rear end a. hook` portion 1I to engage the leg shaft 23 and pull the leg structure forward and off the at supportingsurfaces 28 permitting the leg structure to descend by gravity. The forward end of the rod 18 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a lever 13 pivoted on a transverse shaft-14 which is supported by a bracket 15 rigidly secured to the trailer iid-V 'Jacent the forward end thereof. A helical coil spring 16 acts on the lever 18 and is adapted to move the rod 18 forwardly to engage and move the leg structure forwardly oif of its fiat seating surfaces 26. The provision of lever 18 is a -safety means to insure descent of the leg4 structure and-in the raised position of the leg structure, lever 13 will depend below the under surface of the trailer as shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2. It will be seen that when the tractor draws away from the trailer on uncoupling the vehicles, the tractor fifth wheel I2 engages the lever 13, pulling rod 18 forward, thus causing the leg structure to be moved forward on of its flat seating surfaces prior to release of the forward end of the trailer by the tractor.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 6 and 7, a control or -valve 88 is diagrammatically illustrated and is adapted to control operation of the rear wheel trailer brakes. This control 88 may be suitably located in the cab of the tractor convenient to Athe operator and comprises in general 'a valve body 8l containing a manually operable rotatable valve 82. The valve .body 8l is provided with an opening therein which is connected by a conduit I8 to a suitable source of suction, such as the intake manifold of the tractor engine, and the valve body 8l is provided with another opening or aperture 88a which is open to outside atmosphere. The present valve body is further provided vwith a pair of apertures leading thereinto to one of which the vacuum line 4| is connected by a conduit 84 and to the other of which the line 50 is connected by a conduit 85. The connecting conduits 84 and 85 are preferably iexible conduits, adapted to be readily disengaged from the main conduits 4|, 50

y the source of suction and the other line 84.

`In coupling the trailer to the tractor, the tractor is lbacked. to the trailer, the front end of which slides up onto the tractor fth wheel l2 and is coupled thereto by means including-v the king pin I4 which is received in the jaws i3 oi the fifth wheel. The operator `vthen connects the rflexible conduits 84 and 85, carried by the tractor, to the conduits 4| and 50 carried by the trailer, and vacuum or subatmospheric pressure will be had in the rear chambers of the leg hoistingvacuum cylinders 38, in the vacuum tank 45, and on opposite sides of the diaphragms 48 of the brake cylinders 41. It will be seen that .subatmospheric pressure will be had on both sides of the brake cylinder diaphragms 48 since the valve 82 is in positionv to establish communication between the source of suction and both of the main lines 4| and 58. Equalizing the pressure on both sides of the brake cylinder diaphragms 48 permits releasing. of the of suction, the diaphragms of the vacuum cylinders 38 are exed rearwardly and through links 4l), levers 36 and rods 31 move the' leg or prop structure upwardly and rearwardly clear of the ground. The leg or prop rollers 24 ride up the riser guide members 25 and seat on the upper flat supporting surfaces 26 thereof. In this raised position, the weight of the leg structure -l1 is substantially'entirely removed from the power means or vacuum cylinders which enhances retention of the vacuum, and further requires very little power to hold the leg from descending should there be some loss of power by. the`cylinders. As thev leg structure isv raised rod 23 engages the hook 1| of rod 10 and moves the rod rearwardly pivoting lever'13 to the po 'sition shown in dotted lines,l Fig. 2. If the `mechanical brake holding and releasing mech-- anisms, including the ratchet 6| and pawl 52 are set at the time of raising of the leg structure i1, the abutment members 88 carried by one of the cylinder diaphragm connecting rods 40 will engage and pivot lever 81 moving and holding the pawl 82 out of engagement with the ratchet 6|, thus releasing the trailer rear wheel brakes. With the leg structure rai-sed and the brakes released the tractor-trailer vehicle is ready to travel. During travel of the `tractor-trailer, the valve 82 normally remains in the position shown in Fig. 6, in which position of the valve, subatmospheric pressure is 'maintained in the cylinders as te hold the ieg up and in the tank 4s and on oppositev sides of the diaphragme 48 of the operator moves the control valve 82 'to the position shown in Fig. '7,in which position the vacuum is maintained in the rear -chamber of .the leg holding cylinders -38 but opens they rear chambers of the brake cylinders 41 to outside atmosphere resulting in the setting of the trailer rear wheel brakes. When the trailer is to be uncoupled and parked, the flexible lines 84v and 85 are disconnected from lines 4| and 50 which breaks the v vacuum in the vacuum, cylinders 88, releasing the holding force on the raised leg structure and atthe same time opens the rear chambers of the brake actuating cylinders 41 to atmosphere resulting in setting of the trailer brakes. `The brakes are set when l the rear chambers gf the cylinders 41 are opened'to atmosphere because, opening of line 4| does not breakthe vacuum in tank 45 by, reason ofthe presenceof the check valve 48. After uncoupling the tractor and trailer at the fifth wheel I2, the tractor may then pull away from the trailer and if the leg structure I1 has not al- 1| of rod 18 will engage the transverse rod 28 and pull the leg structure I1 forward prior to complete removal o1' the ilfth ywheel from be-'i movev away from the arm 81,- permitting the spring 85 to move the pawl 62 into engagement with the ratchet 8| which thus serves as a mechanical holding means for the trailer brakes in addition .to the vacuum holding means. Il it is Vdesired to release the brakes, thevacuum may be released by means of the bleeder valve 45a at the tank 45 after which the brakes may be releasedby moving the vpawl 62 out of engagement with the ratchet 6| by the manually operable lever a. g l r What I claim is: I

1. In a trailer vehicle having a frame and having rearwheel. brakes, a prop structure for the front end ofthe frame, said prop structure having a lowered position anda raised position, vacuum power means operable to actuate the brakes, a conduit connecting said power means with a suction source, a vacuum tank interposed in said conduit between said'source and said power means, vacuum power means operable to raise said prop structure, a branch conduit connecting said second-named power means to said conduit between said source and said tank, means lcontrolling ow through said conduit. and a check valve interposed in said rstnamed conduit between said branch conduit and said tank.

2. In a trailer vehicle having rear wheel between said source and said power means, vacuum power means operable to raise said prop and connected toand between saidsource and said tank, means controlling operations'of said power means, and a check valve for said vacuum tank and disposed between said tank `and said second-named vacuum powe'i` means.

l brakes, a prop for the front end of the trailer,

3. In a tractor vehicle having rear wheel brakes, a.' prop for the front end of the trailer,

a lowered position and a raised position,4 uid said prop having a lowered position and a raised position, uid power means operable to actuate said brakes and connected to a source of suction. a. iluid tank disposed between and connected to said source and to said power means, power means operable to raise said prop and connected to said source and to said tank, means controlling said rst-named power means and said second-named power means, and a check valve' for said tank and disposed between said second-named power means and said tank.

4. In a trailer vehicleA having rear Wheel brakes, a prop for the trailer, said prop having pressure power means operable to actuate the brakes, conduit means connecting said power means to-a source of suction, a fluid tank interposed in said conduit means between said source and said power means, fluid pressure power means operable to raise said prop, conduit means connecting said second-named power means to said first-named conduit means between said source and said tank, means controlling ilow through said conduit means, and pressure re- V sponsive valve means in said flrst-named conduitl means between said second-named conduit means and said tank. f SIDNEY B. WINN. 

